World Cup 2014 LIVE: All the news from Day 12 after wins for Brazil and Mexico in Group A and for the Netherlands and Spain in Group B

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of Day 12 of the World Cup with Sam Dymond and Marc Williams. We brought you all the action and news from wins for Brazil and Mexico in Group A plus victories for the Netherlands and Spain in Group B...

Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of day 12 of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and on this 12th day of the World Cup, my true love gives to me four thrilling games to enjoy instead of the standard three.

Unfortunately, what my true love giveth with one hand, they taketh away with the other, and you’ll have to have two sets of eyes – or at least a television and an iPad - to watch two pairs of game later today. And that’s because it’s the final round of fixtures in Groups A and B, and to avoid any potential conspiracies, the authorities demand that these encounters must kick-off at the same time. You can blame the Germans and Austrians for that.

Of course, there can’t be any last game shenanigans in Group B because Australia and champions Spain have already been eliminated. They contest the wooden spoon in Curitiba while Chile and the Netherlands fight it out for top spot and a second round contest with the runners-up of Group A.

And that will be determined between 9pm and 11pm this evening. Hosts Brazil will be likely winners of that section should they swat aside Cameroon as expected, but second spot is up for grabs when Croatia and Mexico clash in Recife.

Sam Dymond, and later Marc Williams, will be here to talk you through all the action as it happens, and if you want to have your say on the games in these groups or England’s World Cup campaign, then please tweet @sammydymond or email sam.dymond@gmail.com.

6/23/2014 10:37:48 AM

Captain Frank-tastic

England manager Roy Hodgson has indicated that he will utilise the Three Lions' final game of the World Cup to give some playing time on the biggest stage to the youngsters in his squad - while also offering the captain's armband to veteran Frank Lampard on what is likely to be his final appearance for his country.

The former Chelsea midfielder has not played a single minute so far in Brazil, but his starting berth tomorrow will mean a 106th cap in a 15-year international career.

Unfortunately for long-suffering England fans, Lampard will take Steven Gerrard's place in the England team, thus denying supporters one final opportunity to see if the pair can operate together in a viable midfield partnership.

Of course, Theo Walcott will only be 29 by Russia 2018 and still an international footballer. Patrick Roberts, the 17-year-old star of Fulham’s academy, could yet make the grade. And what better way to beat the Uruguayans at their own game than to recruit the son of one of their best players?

As a side note, if there are any prospective Premier League scouts reading this, I've watched Patrick Roberts feature for the Fulham youth team on numerous occasions this past year and you're wasting your time. You'd be much better off looking abroad. He's rubbish, I'm telling you. Leave him alone.

6/23/2014 11:54:28 AM

Gerrard Demands Names

Queens Park Rangers manager, and the people's choice for the national job - providing the people are represented by North London taxi drivers who drops consonants quicker than Robbie Savage drops names - Harry Redknapp, has once again opened his mouth and caused a furore that has left Steven Gerrard scratching his head.

Redknapp had suggested that, while in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, some of his players had come to him and asked for help in avoiding international duty.

The Real Madrid forward combined his brand-new barnet with some fancy flickery in the first half and a draw-winning cross in injury to compound his status as the self-proclaimed best player in the world, but onlookers were less than impressed with his display. The hairdo prompted a barrage of hilarious memes on Twitter while Tom Sheen asked is Ronaldo's the worst haircut at the World Cup?

However, the social media fun was soon brought to a red-faced end when one particular tweet suggested that the Portuguese star sported his new look in tribute to a child who had just undergone brain surgery.

Ronaldo's haircut isn't the only thing that has got people smiling at the World Cup this past few days. Nigeria's 1-0 success over Bosnia on Saturday evening had a whole nation celebrating, but did it also give New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary reason to cheer?

A photograph has been unearthed that appears to show the official congratulating Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama at the end of a game in which O'Leary wrongly chalked off a Bosnian goal, scored by Edin Dzeko.

Now we turn our attention to the four World Cup games taking place this evening, and it's Group B that's centre-stage at 5pm. Netherlands and Chile have already sealed their qualification to the knockout stages, but they'll be fighting it out for top spot when they go head-to-head in Sao Paulo, knowing that a first-placed finish is likely to see them avoid hosts Brazil in the second round.

The Oranje will be more comfortable in this match knowing that a draw is enough to secure them the top spot since due to their superior goal difference. However, Louis van Gaal will be missing the services of Manchester United hitman Robin van Persie who is suspended. PSV Eindhoven’s Memphis Depay, who scored the winner last week against Australia, is expected to start up front.

6/23/2014 1:46:37 PM

Australia v Spain

Group B's other match, at the Arena de Baixada, has very little riding on it in regards to this World Cup, but so much when it comes to the pride of the Spanish national team.

After a disastrous two-match defence of their title, manager Vicente Del Bosque had offered to step down from his role, but the coach has been publicly backed by the country's football federation and no decision, as of yet, has been made regarding his future. Whether his public training ground fallout with Cesc Fabregas will have an effect on the decision remains to be seen, but it's clear that the Spanish squad is not a happy place to be right now.

While La Roja have been well below-par in Brazil, their opponents this evening, Australia, have perhaps performed beyond their capabilities more than any other country at this World Cup. A return of nil points and an early exit is a harsh reflection on the Socceroos' efforts, but victory against the fallen champions would be a fine way to bow out.

For the deposed world champions, it comes to this. Spain must beat Australia to avoid finishing fourth. From top of the world to bottom of the group. That sums up the extent of their fall.

6/23/2014 2:09:34 PM

Croatia v Mexico

In Group A later this evening, third-placed Croatia and second-placed Mexico meet on the east coast with a place in the knockout stages at stake.

El Tricolor hold a point advantage, although both nations could qualify with a draw if Cameroon do the unthinkable and beat hosts Brazil at the Estadio Nacional. Yet that seems markedly unlikely, especially considering the pathetic display of the Indomitable Lions against the Croatians last week, meaning the best course of action for Niko Kovac's team is to go for the win. However, as Miguel Delaney explains in his preview of tonight's match in Recife, that would mean beating a man in form.

In order to reach the second round of the World Cup for the first time since 1998, Croatia are going to have to do something not even Brazil could manage - beat one of the unexpected stars of the tournament so far, Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

6/23/2014 3:02:09 PM

The teams are in for the final two games in Group B.

Vincente Del Bosque makes a number of changes to his Spanish team in their dead rubber against the Australians. Pepe Reina gets a rare start in goal while Fernando Torres plays up front alongside David Villa with Arsenal's Santi Cazorla in midfield. Meanwhile, for Australia, Newcastle Jets' Adam Taggart comes in for the suspended Tim Cahill up front.

Louis van Gaal favours Dynamo Kiev's Jeremain Lens in attack following Robin van Persie's suspension so the Dutch's match-winner against the Australians, Memphis Depay, must settle for a place on the bench. An injury to Bruno Martins Indi sees a switch in formation with Dirk Kuyt coming into the team along with Georginio Wijnaldum, who replaces Jonathan de Guzman. Meanwhile, Jorge Sampaoli takes the opportunity rest Chilean captain Arturo Vidal; FC Twente's Felipe Gutierrez comes in for the Juventus man.

The kick-offs in Curitiba and Sao Paulo are nearly upon us, and the crowds are building up inside the stadiums. Whatever happened to wearing Stone Island gear to the football?

6/23/2014 3:53:03 PM

KICK-OFF: We're underway in the final two Group B games. It's a section of the World Cup that has so far provided 17 goals, but with Robin van Persie and Tim Cahill suspended, and Fernando Torres selected, it's hard to know where that kind of scoring is going to come from this evening...

5 mins: Australia 0 Spain 0: The first shot of day 12 of this World Cup comes from Australia's Matthew Leckie. Behind Tim Cahill, the robust Frankfurt forward has been the Socceroos' standout performer, but his effort on goal fails to test Pepe Reina, and soars well wide.

6/23/2014 4:07:35 PM

9 mins: Netherlands 0 Chile 0: It's been a stop-start opening in Sao Paulo, but it's the Chileans who are beginning to utilise possession. However, they've just needed a thumping clearance from Eduardo Vargas to clear the danger inside their own penalty area after Wesley Sneijder's lofted free-kick caused some momentary panic.

6/23/2014 4:10:39 PM

The BBC's very own Benjamin Button, Mark Chapman has unearthed the real reason behind Spain's downfall...

15 mins: Netherlands 0 Chile: The Chileans are starting to gain inroads down the left-hand side with Eugenio Mena poising a threat - when he's not being kicked over by Daryl Janmaat. The Santos defender has sent two teasing crosses into the box in the past few minutes, but the Dutch have been alive to the danger.

6/23/2014 4:16:40 PM

18 mins: Netherlands 0 Chile 0: The Chilean fans are yet again causing a cauldron of noise inside the media cent...sorry, stadium, and they nearly have something else to cheer. Unsurprisingly, it emanated down the left, but after Charles Aranguiz has neatly dummied the low centre, Sanchez slipped at the vital moment.

23 mins: Netherlands 0 Chile 0: Chile go close again with a move straight off the training ground - and not the kind of move on the training ground when Mario Balotelli thumps someone. Sanchez lined up a corner on the left, and pulled it low to the edge of the box where Felipe Gutierrez met it first time on the turn. The FC Twente midfielder was unable to keep his effort down, but it's another warning fired at the Dutch.

6/23/2014 4:25:13 PM

26 mins: Australia 0 Spain 0: In a testament to the tight marking favoured by the Australians at this World Cup, Fernando Torres is currently wandering around the Arena da Baixada pitch with a gaping hole ripped in the middle of his shirt - although it's got nothing on the one that Spain displayed in their defence against the Dutch. Moments later, the Chelsea striker removes the remaining threads from his upper body to put on a ready-made replacement on the touchline. Yellow card offence?

6/23/2014 4:29:18 PM

30 mins: Australia 0 Spain 0: Jordi Alba has just forced Mat Ryan into a fine save to keep the scores at deadlock in Curitiba. The Spanish left-back found himself as the furthest forward player in the Australian area, but his low shot from an acute angle was pushed away to safety by the Club Brugge stopper.

6/23/2014 4:32:32 PM

33 mins: Netherlands 0 Chile 0: A crunching - yet surprisingly fair - tackle from Nigel de Jong in the middle of the park has just sparked a counter-attack, but Arjen Robben found himself in two minds as he bore down on the Chile defence, getting his final pass all wrong and losing possession. Moments later, Robben did get his delivery spot on from a set-piece, but Stefan de Vrij failed to get a full connection on his header at the far post.

6/23/2014 4:37:18 PM

36 mins: GOAL! AUSTRALIA 0 SPAIN 1:

The world champions finally have something to cheer before they depart! And it's one of the old guard, David Villa, who has got them off the mark in the cheekiest of fashions! Juanfran finally got the better of Australian left-back Jason Davidson, and his pull back from the touchline was backheeled into the net by the 32-year-old striker. In what is Villa's final Spain appearance, it's a lovely way to go out.

6/23/2014 4:37:40 PM

39 mins: Netherlands 0 Chile 0: Classic Robben nearly brings a classic goal. The Bayern Munich forward gained possession just inside the Chile half, and ran and ran and ran, swaying one way and then the other, before finally pulling his shot inches wide of Claudio Bravo's post.

Meanwhile, Olive has written in to say; "The company I work for has blocked all World Cup content on the Internet yet I found it here at The Independent! Thanks!" To be honest, Olive, your company's strict regime may have done you a favour with these two first halves.

6/23/2014 4:44:35 PM

44 mins: Australia 0 Spain 1: The Spanish nearly double their lead on the stroke of half-time, but Santi Cazorla's goalbound effort is acrobatically diverted behind for a corner by recovering defender Matthew Spiranovic. This Australian team may be limited, but they never give up.

6/23/2014 4:47:45 PM

HALF-TIME - NETHERLANDS 0 CHILE 0:

6/23/2014 4:47:59 PM

HALF-TIME - AUSTRALIA 0 SPAIN 1:

6/23/2014 4:48:07 PM

Here's The Independent's Glenn Moore with his half-time thoughts on today's final two Group B fixtures...

Group B began and progressed with a bang, but with the main issues decided is going out quietly, as if exhausted. David Villa’s well-taken goal for Spain is somewhat out of character for these last knockings, the striker having been given the freedom of Curitiba by Australia. Over in Sao Paulo Chile have maintained their excellent tournament, largely outplaying the Dutch. However, as Robben demonstrated in the closing stages of the half, the latter do have the star quality that has often proven the difference already in this tournament.

6/23/2014 4:52:41 PM

SECOND HALF KICK-OFF: We're underway again in Sao Paulo and Curitiba, and there's been a single half-time substitution in each of the two Group B games. Australia's Adam Taggart hasn't been able to cope with transfer speculation linking him with Fulham, and has been replaced by Ben Halloran while Chile's Jean Beausejour is on for Felipe Gutierrez.

6/23/2014 5:07:07 PM

51 mins: Netherlands 0 Chile 0: The prevalent whistling from the crowd at the Arena de Sao Paulo is making for the kind of atmosphere you'd find at a giant aviary. It's not completely unpleasant, and certainly beats the vuvuzelas of South Africa, but 20,000 bird imitators are not necessarily what you'd expect from the World Cup.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, little of note has happened since the restart.

6/23/2014 5:14:37 PM

56 mins: Australia 0 Spain 1: Spain goalscorer David Villa leaves the field in Curitiba in tears with Manchester United's Juan Mata on in his place. It's an emotional end to a fine international career, and while he wouldn't have wanted to depart La Roja scene fo the group stage, a winning strike in his finale would be a fitting finish.

6/23/2014 5:18:50 PM

63 mins: Netherlands 0 Chile 0: Hopeful appeals for a Chilean penalty are ignored by referee Bakary Gassama after Jasper Cillessen is adjudged to have played the ball and not the man inside the penalty area. As it is, Chile don't even get the second-best option of a corner, and the Dutch goalkeeper can count himself lucky on two counts. He was out fast to deal with Sanchez chasing a long pass over Daley Blind, and appeared to take more of the Barcelona forward than the football as it was running out of play.

Spain grab a second in Curitiba! Whatever measures the Spanish Football Federation choose to take after this World Cup, they would do well to note that Andres Iniesta can still pick a beautiful pass and, maybe, just maybe, Fernando Torres can still finish with cool composure. The Chelsea striker needed just two touches, one to control with his left foot, and another to cushion the ball past Mat Ryan with his right, but it was all down to the wonderfully weighted pass from Barcelona midfielder, who dissected the Australian defence with absolute precision.

6/23/2014 5:28:25 PM

77 mins: GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1 CHILE 0:

The Dutch had just started to turn up the gas, and now Leroy Fer has headed them in front with his first goal for the Netherlands - and with his first touch off the bench! Another substitute, Memphis Depay, has nearly broken the deadlock seconds earlier, but his long range drive had been tipped over by Claudio Bravo. However, from the resulting corner - the longest short corner on record - Arjen Robben found Daryl Janmaat, and his looping cross into the area was planted into the corner by Fer. For the first time at these finals, Holland have opened the scoring and it could well see them to a third straight victory.

6/23/2014 5:34:53 PM

81 mins: Netherlands 1 Chile 0: Chile haven't taken that goal lying down, and are coming straight back at the Dutch. From a corner, Nigel de Jong nearly heads into his own net at the near post, but his blushes are spared by the goalline clearance of Stefan de Vrij. Yet the Chileans are appealing! They feel the Feyenoord defender used his arm to divert that away and want a penalty! However, not for the first time evening, they are left frustrated by referee Gassama.

6/23/2014 5:41:17 PM

82 mins: GOAL! AUSTRALIA 0 SPAIN 3:

Juan Mata has added some gloss to the scoreline with a third Spanish goal. The substitute was the latest to break behind the Australian's offside trap to control a lofted ball from another sub, Cesc Fabregas, and as Mat Ryan came out to close him down, the Manchester United playmaker steered a left-footed shot through the goalkeeper's legs. Another three goals and the Spanish won't finish the tournament with a negative goal difference.

6/23/2014 5:41:35 PM

89 mins: Netherlands 1 Chile 0: The most mental man in South Wales - of which there is some stiff competition - nearly comes up trumps with a late Chile equaliser, but Gary Medel's header travels wide of the post. In truth, the Cardiff midfielder had barged De Jong in the back to make space for himself as two of the World Cup's hatchet men matched up.

6/23/2014 5:49:18 PM

90+2 mins: GOAL! NETHERLANDS 2 CHILE 0:

The Dutch are going to top Group B! It's hard on Chile, who threw everything at the Netherlands in a frenetic finale, but they were caught out on the counter attack, and a second substitute, Memphis Depay has bagged his second of the tournament! The young PSV forward did remarkably well, not only to escape his marker, but to race 60 yards to keep pace with the blistering Arjen Robben. The Bayern Munich man latched on to a long ball forward from Nigel de Jong, sprinted clear down the left and sent a cross over for Depay to convert at the far post.

6/23/2014 5:49:36 PM

FULL TIME - NETHERLANDS 2 CHILE 0:

6/23/2014 5:51:39 PM

FULL TIME - AUSTRALIA 0 SPAIN 3:

6/23/2014 5:52:08 PM

The players aren't even back in the changing rooms yet, but here's The Independent'sGlenn Moore with his final thoughts on Group B...

There was a sense of powder being kept dry in Sao Paulo for more telling tests ahead though the clash illuminated some strengths and weaknesses. Chile were smarter tactically and deserved a draw, but need to mark much better at set-pieces given they are already conceding height to most teams. The Dutch underlined their counter-attacking capacity. No secret this, but seeking to stop Robben, like trying to stifle Suarez and Pirlo, is easier to talk about than it is to execute.

In Curitiba Spain’sgolden era ends in victory, albeit a phyrric one (though England will gladly settle for the same tomorrow). If scorers Villa and Torres do not exactly signpost the way to a new generation Mata does represent the future.

Australia, as expected, head home pointless, but not without honour. Coach Ange Postecoglou can feel the Socceroos are developing nicely ahead of next year’s Asian Cup which Australia will host. Their problems, after shipping nine goals in three games, are clearly in defence, but they will not face strikers this good next year.

6/23/2014 5:58:21 PM

Evening all! Marc Williams here again and I hope everyone enjoyed Andy Murray's victory at Wimbledon earlier, at least we could still win something this summer…

After all those goals from Group B we turn our attention to Group A for tonight's action.

Brazil play, already out, Cameroon in Brazilia while Croatia and Mexico battle it out in Recife to get through to the Round of 16. Both games get going at 9pm.

After Neymar inspired Brazil to an opening day victory over Croatia, their World Cup title challenge came under severe scrutiny with their goalless draw with Mexico. Tonight they face up against Cameroon who have already been eliminated. We'll be focusing on the hosts' final group game this evening!

We will also be keeping a close eye on the other game from Group A that sees two teams with everything still to play for. Winner takes all stuff! Mexico and Croatia both looked good when beating Cameroon but who will win tonight and go through?

Plenty to tell you about before 9pm!

6/23/2014 6:09:50 PM

So, the Dutch go through to the next round with three wins out of three. Chile join them in the Round of 16 too.

Spain finish off a miserable campaign for the reigning champions with an easy victory of Australia but it was too little, far too late for them.

The Netherlands and Chile will face the teams from Group A in the next round but who will it be?

Time will reveal all...

6/23/2014 6:17:16 PM

Time to get going with the build-up for tonight's Group A games then, plenty to bring you with just over an hour and half to go until kick-off.